Wordless Wednesday: November15, 2014 is America Recycles Day!

November15, 2014 is America Recycles Day!

There are many ways to recycle but, because Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, I thought food waste might be the best topic to talk about because, while we feast, someone else is going hungry. Can we help to stop that? Look at the infographics below and let me know what YOU think!

America Recycles Day 11/15/2014 (logo courtesy America Recycles)

Pie chart of Food Waste in the U.S. (photo courtesy of National Resources Defense Council)

Americans waste approx. 245 lbs. of food per person per year (infographic courtesy of Tufts University)

25 million people could be fed if we reduced food waste by 15% (Infographic courtesy National Resources Defense Council)

Let’s it do better! Recycle your food waste or better yet, compost it yourself and use it in your garden!

It’s just staggering, isn’t it! Though, it’s not the main source of food waste, gardeners who grow too much often end up tossing food that could have been shared with those who need it. AmpleHarvest.org has a free, online, searchable database of food pantries across the US that are ready and able to use that extra garden bounty to serve hungry families. Gardeners can find one at http://www.AmpleHarvest.org/findpantry THANKS for bringing this topic to our attention! It’s so important that we all do our part!

Emily, thank you so much for your comment and for sharing the Ample Harvest website with us. I’m familiar with your organization and the good work you do. Yes, some of the statistics on food waste in the US are deplorable and we know we can do so much better. Extension Master Gardeners are in a strategic position to be able to encourage people to share their unused harvest with food pantries and other food distribution systems and to encourage people to compost their leftovers. I’m looking forward to a great reduction in these figures as I’m sure you are too. I hope your Thanksgiving feast is full of sharing food and thanks with family and friends.